BAC 2nds 34 - Southmead 3rds 10

After the storms we had had for the last few days it was nice that the rain stopped just before k.o. though the wind was still blowing straight down the pitch. Forced into a few changes with late cry off’s once again. BAC started with a strong set of backs with Jimmy, Rob Davies and Jones, Dave Eatock, Sam on one wing , Jake at full back and making a guest appearance from the 1sts Bruce on the other wing. The forwards, what can one say with four props playing, were quite robust. Handy for the conditions. The game started with BAC playing into the wind. It’s amazing how simple rugby can be when one sticks to a game plan which worked perfectly. From the word go the BAC tight five started overpowering their opposition winning all our own scrimmage and disrupting theirs badly turning quite a few over. The line outs were being dominated by Steve Moore and Jason giving our backs plenty of ball to work their magic. Keep the ball in hand, drive recycle switching the point of attack Jimmy at scrum half had his best game for a while. Alex’s throwing in was 100% and general all round play is improving. Body, Jimmer, Gandalf and Piggy proved with a strong scrum what a team can do.  

The first try came from a concerted forward effort working their way to the line with Jason nipping over on the blind. Rob missed the conversion from out wide. Southmead from the kick off were awarded a penalty for a player playing the ball in an offside position. They kicked the penalty. The second try was a well worked move in the backs putting Bruce in space, sprinting down the touch line stepping inside half hearted tackling(surprising for the mead) scoring under the posts. Rob converted. 

If there is one person you don’t want to kick a ball to in space it’s Bruce. The third try came from a panicking kick out from Southmead from their own goal line straight down Bruce’s throat on the half way. With only one person to beat no contest. Rob hit the post with the conversion.

Half time 17-3 

Our half time talk was let’s push them back into their own half using the wind, or put some high balls up getting them to look straight into the low winter sun. After 5 minutes we had to forget about the sun because the sky went black, and these bloody golf ball sized hail stones came down.

From the first scrum of the second half saw Matty picking up from no.8 releasing Jimmy down the blind side putting Sam over in the corner at a canter. Rob converted from the touch line. The next score was from a 5 metre scrum with the BAC pack marching Southmead backwards with Jimmy pushing the no.8 out of the way to score. Missed conversion. The final score was a charge down by Jimmy, with the ball bouncing nicely into Robs hands scoring under the posts. Missed conversion. Near the end of the game Southmead scored a consolation try which was converted.

BAC 1st XV 13 - Nailsea and Backwell 1st XV 5

This week marked BAC's furthest ever progression in the Junior Vase with a 4th Round match against the top Somerset 1 side, Nailsea and Backwell.  Being one of the most important matches we've been involved in, preparations started in training with specific tactics aimed at the Nailsea overloaded mid field defence.  That topped with some excellent defensive work ourselves, threw the Nailsea game and allowed BAC to control the match.

The packs were pretty evenly matched with much of the possession equally shared.  Where our boys really showed their worth was in the close play with pick an drives hammering the Nailsea defence.  The Nailsea pack did come back with some good rolling mauls, but once they had position, their backs were unable to convert the hard work.

In fact, the Nailsea backs who we thought would be their attacking weapon, ended up being pretty average.  A bit of pressure by the BAC rush defence caused mistake after mistake for the Nailsea 3/4's with knock-ons and sloppy passing.  Conversely the BAC backs did themselves proud with some great handling and solid defence.  Also a special mention for Stoner who played a blinder and was unfortunate not to have got some points to show for it.

The first points of the game came in the first half with a lineout in the opposition 22, Brian passed out to Rob at fly half who popped back into Bruce coming off the blind wing.  Bruce broke the first line and took the contact to set up and allow the forwards to pile over and secure the ball.  Some quick pick and drives 5 meters from the line ended in with Ben Blue Socks opening up the winning account. 

Even though BAC were already playing well, that first try gave BAC the first glimmer that they could actually win the game.  From then on, both the forwards and backs together played some of BAC's best rugby this season.

The next points came in the second half, with a well secured lineout in the opposition 22.  The BAC backs were well spread, overlapping the last Nailsea winger.  Quick ball from Brian allowed Scott to pop to Joe, loop him and then take and give to Bruce who only had a distant winger to beat to cross the line.

The final BAC points were scored from a penalty taken by the replacement fly half, ol' dependable boot, Darron, leaving it 13-0 with 10 minutes to go.

Nailsea did manage a final flourish in what was their only really successful backs attack of the day.  An overload on one side of the pitch meant once the BAC winger had taken his man, Nailsea still had 2 more to run in the easy try.

All in all a superb display from BAC, who are now in the 5th Round of the Junior Vase, Twickenham here we come!!!!!!! (or not).  Also full credit to the coaches for their hard work, and the team for sticking to the game plan!  If we can take that team work and effort in to a league match, who knows what will happen!

BAC 2nd XV 40 - Barton Hill 35  (score tbd)

Match report to come

BAC 2nd XV 43 - Barton Hill 0

After the disappointment of the performances over the last two weeks losing to Saracens & North Bristol the 2^nd’s went away to Barton Hill with a relatively inexperienced side due to late cry off’s once again. It was good though to have funky mkII leading the troops again after his vacation in the first team. Debuts were given to 17 year old Josh at full back and a welcome return to the fold for a member of the Moore family, Steve whose father Nick had played over 500 games for club during the 70’s-80’s. But it is amazing what a bit of age with cunning and treachery mixed with youth and enthusiasm can achieve. From the start BAC were under pressure in the tight against the large Barts pack, but soon realised by stepping up the pace of the game and keeping the ball in the hands they could move Barts around which we did with success. The first try came off a Barts lineout overthrown on the halfway. Jules gathered the loose ball stepping inside their stand off and off loading to Mark D on the 22 picking the ball up off his toes. Mark drew the full back before popping the ball inside to man of the match Stu B home from uni for the weekend.  The confidence level just grew as BAC ran the ball from everywhere, with men on the shoulder of the ball carrier every time, this resulted in tries for Jason W and Paul our twinkle toed centre who just loves taking the ball up and off loading out of the tackle zone. Josh converted one of the tries making the half time score 17 – 0. 

At half time Rob made way at stand off for young Josh to move up from full back. Jake(baby joe90) moving from the wing to his normal position of full back. Jeff came on for Fernando  who I thought for only his third game of rugby was outstanding on the wing, returning the ball with profit on many occasions from deep kicks before off loading, Andy Mc going on the wing vacated by Jake, and the old man Piggy came on for the tiring Body playing his first game for twelve months. 

The BAC forwards started to dominate the Barts tiring pack taking countless balls against the head which allowed the backs to run some lovely moves off the back. Jimmy sneaked in for a typical poachers try from scrum half. From a five metre scrum BAC drove the Barts pack over the line only to find Jules had already broken off and scored on the blind. Then from a ruck out wide on the halfway Jim passed to Paul who started to run at slight angle away from the tackle area with Piggy running a dummy run back inside held the Barts defence which let Paul ghost through the gap, opening his legs he just got to the posts before being tackled.  The last try was worth waiting for. From a lineout on the Barts 22 Josh showing a mature head on a young set of shoulders ran across the BAC  line, dummying to Paul at inside centre on the switch before releasing Dave Ewok coming on the switch from outside centre. Dave cut straight through the Barts line and as the full back came up to tackle Dave he offloaded to Paul who had tracked his run touching down under the posts. Josh kicked a further three conversions. 

Stu Bowker got man of the match for an outstanding display of committed rugby. It’s just a pity he is not available every week we could have fun with the chillis. 

Final score BAC 43 Barton Hill 0

Once again the 2 old farts Waldorf and Stadtler were watching with glee thinking back to a bygone era. Most of all we would like to thank blind pew(our chairman)who after being called in at the last moment refereed the game superbly especially the tackle area which allowed the game to flow. It was a bugger though when you get penalised for a forward pass on his bad side. All in all it was a pleasure to watch and to be involved in a game played in such a good manner. Well done Barts.

(admin: "crikey Piggy were you playing or taking notes!")

BAC 1st XV 22 - Cainscross 19

BAC rugby travelled up the M5 to Cainscross who were propping up the bottom of the table at the start of the match.

BAC were hoping to improve their performance from last week against Aretians. It was a dry, overcast day. BAC started the game playing down the pitch, which, may I add could do with a little levelling out!! This week saw Chris Gibbons come up from the 2nds to fill the roll of flanker and Lawrence travelled as a solid substitute. The start to the game was fairly level both teams testing all aspects of each others game. BAC eventually rumbled up to 10 meters from the Cainscross line and were awarded a scrum. The ball was won and then a blind side move saw Rob Jones crash over for the first try of the game. Conversion was missed.

Cainscross then kicked off and began to play with passion. This all ended  up with their fullback running into our forwards in the BAC 22 and somehow managing to come out the other side to touch down under the posts for an all to easy 7 points.

The game continued into the second half and also continued to be close with the BAC forward just edging the up front battle. Another try was eventually scored by Scotty from a fluid bit of passing from all the players. This was converted. Cainscross again came back strong with some good runs from their fullback. Cainscross eventually scored from a poor clearance kick from the BAC 22 which found their number 11 covering and with some good pace he raced to the line to touchdown. The next was a quick penalty from Brian who off loaded to Duncan who made some good yards and finally popped the ball to Jean who touch down under the posts. Converted.

The last 15 minutes BAC were in their 22; they tried to clear their line but got charged down. A Cainscross player hacked it on it was then a one on one race to the line which was won by the Cainscross player to touch down in the corner.  

This meant the game was tied at 19 all with about 13 minutes to go. BAC piled on the pressure and seemed to have scored a perfectly good try from a clever kick from Raj. The ref seemed to be unsure and so played it safe and didn’t award the try. Cainscross kicked themselves out of trouble.

Cainscross eventually gave away a penalty to the right of the posts that was certainly kickable. Rob Jones pointed at the posts. The penalty was successfully kicked to make the score 22-19 to BAC with about 7 minutes to play. The forwards then came into their own again keeping the ball and picking and driving to wind the clock down. Rob Jones asking the ref “how much time left sir” every time they picked and drove. The ref finally said time was up. The BAC forward however were having so much fun they continued to pick and drive a further 2 or 3 times! Eventually the ball came out and was kicked out to give BAC a close win.  

To sum up, the BAC forwards set an excellent platform. Some good continuity play between the backs and forwards. Backs wasted a few chances. This is possibly due to lack of availability from week to week.  Some really good heart from all the boys. The main point is, a good win away from home.

Man of the match Joner.  Tackle of the match Jean Noel, (possibly tackle of the season!!)  The Cainscross winger is now in Counselling!

Shortly after half time another injury to a K’s front row meant the game had to carry on uncontested. This allowed K’s some possession but the defence from the BAC back row was superb turning over countless ball. Mentions to Garath on his first game this season and Stuart who sadly is now back in Uni. Gradually the K’s defence wilted as the pressure grew as BAC scored at will running the ball from everywhere. One special mention to Danny(Iron Man)T retrieving a kick from his own goal line side stepping and ducking his way through virtually the whole K team before finally being tap tackled just inside their 22, slipping the ball to Garath who ran in unopposed under the posts. It was hard to remember how each try was scored seeing there was 14 of them. The scores were Justin, Mark Dew, JMF, Garath, Duncan, Stuart, Alex, Sion, Sam & Stoner who scored 5. Special mention to Darron again who converted 13 of the 14 tries from all angles again. Keep it up Dar. 

Thanks to the first team for letting us have their 2 replacements or we might have had to done it with 13. Special thanks to the K’s loosehead who must be the most cheerful person at any party, if he had concentrated more on his game rather than moan at every decision the referee had given a hard day might have been a bit more pleasant. Good effort though K’s.

This week saw a fairly strong backs line up including Jimmy Watson, Dave Etock, Chris Stone, Alex Nunan, Danny (ferret) Williams, Stephan and Rob Jones. Our forwards saw the notorious P I G back in at hooker along side Jimmer and Laurwence. With a Surprise appearance from Andy Cameron in the 2nd row along side a much fitter and altogether more mobile Jason. Flankers were Matt Smith and the very mobile Stuart Bowker with Norm at number eight.

The match started with quite a bit of pace and BAC got off on the front foot never to look back. Camped out in the Cainscross 22 for 15 minutes battering their line with crash ball and rucks and mauls. An excellent display from the forwards set the platform for what was to be another impressive performance. Cainscross's defence was strong, however the breakthrough came when quick hands through the backs released the raw talent of Chris Stone to touch down in the right corner. At that moment something seemed to click, we realised with simple good hands and drawing the man there were tries to be had. Another try from Stoner followed and then Dave Etock from a charged down kick.

It all starts to get a little hazy after that for me. However I will endeavour to try and remember who scored. Chris Stone with 3 tries, Dave Etock with 2 tries, Alex Nunan with 1 try, Stuart Bowker with 1 try and the ever sneaky Jimmy in for one as well. Rob Jones kicked 3 conversions and showed some improvement in that department. His line kicking was definately one of his better displays.

All in all it was a very good performance by all. The defence was good with a lot of communication and the forwards fanning out which made it a lot easier for the backs. The rush defence paid off with the Cainscross backs panicking and dropping the ball every time they were under pressure.

In attack again there was good communication and extremely good continuity. Obviously there are a few things to improve on but there is a good foundation to push on and take many more victories this season. A little less panicking would have really polished off this performance.
 

Straight from the restart BAC scored the try of the game, when the ball must have gone through 4/5 phases and countless pairs of hands for Gandalf to score a debut try. This took the wind out of the A.D sails. With the BAC forwards causing havoc the backs ripped them apart, with further tries coming from, Jason on his debut, Funky MarkII, Chardy, a second for Dasher and James Eatock and 2 for Danny(Iron man)Taylor. Special mention for Darron who’s kicking from hand was virtually flawless and converted 9 of the 11 tries from all angles.